Starting and lighting system for automobiles.



W. i. RUSS,

summa AND LIGHTING svsum For: AummorLEs.

APPLiCATiON FILED MAY 13. 1914.

1,29 3, 3 1 4. Dammi m. 1, 1919.

jj j( cwi/wif m, Jb El,

'WILLIAM L. BLISS, 0F

NIAGARA FALLS, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO U. S. LIGHT & HEAT CORPORATION, 0F NIAGARA FALLS, NEW YORK, A

CORPORATION 0F NEW YORK.

STARTING AND LIGHTING SYSTEM FOR AUTOMOBILES.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Application led May 13, 1914. Serial No. 838,247.

To all w/wm z't may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM L. Brass, a citizen of the United States, residing at Niagara Falls, in the county of Niagara and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Starting and Lighting Systems for Automobiles, of which the following is a full, clear` concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification.

This invention relates to starting and lighting systems for automobiles.

The invention relates to the type of automobile starting and lighting system in which a dynamo-electric machine serves as a starting motor to start the engine and thereafter as a generator operated by the engine to Vcharge a storage battery and to operate lamps or other translating devices. In such a system it is desirable that a maximum starting torque should be rovided for starting the engine and that t e dynamo-electric machine, when acting as a generator, should be automatically regulated to provide `the proper charging current for the battery throughout wide ranges-of engine speeds.

An object of the present invention is to provide regulating means for a variable speed generator employed to charge a storage battery, whereby the generator may become effective at a relatively low speed for charging the battery.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved regulating means for a variable speed generator employed to charge a storage battery, whereby the range of speeds within which charging of the battery may be effected. is increased.

Another object of the invention is to provide regulating means for a variable speed generator which will regenerate the ener consumed in regulation and turn it back into useful and available power.

Another object of the invention is to provide regulating means for .a variable speed generator, whereby the output of the generatorat low speeds maybe increased andV adapted to operate as a regulating machine for a variable speed generator and which may also be operated independently as a motor. Y

Another object of the invention is to provide a simplified controlling switch for automobile starting and lighting systems.

Two embodiments of the invention, whereby these and other objects may be attained, are illustratedrin the accompanying drawings, in which* Figure l illustrates di improved starting and lig Fig. 2 modification thereof.

In the embodiments of the invent-ion herein described, a lmain dynamo-electric'machine andan auxiliary dynamo-electric machine are employed. These machines are both mechanically connected to the automobile engine to be driven thereby. A Sinigle switch serves to make the various connections of the system, whereby the main machine may operate as a motor to start the engine and thereafter as a enerator, regulated by the auxiliary maclgine, to charge the storage battery. When the switch is in starting position, the main machine acts as torque to start the engine.

rammatically, the ting system.

engine speeds.l At the switchautomatically connects the generators to the battery and thereafterv as the speed increases, the auxiliary machine gradually reduces its voltage and finally, at Vhigh speeds, automatically reverses an o poses the main generator, so as to maintaln the combined output within predetermined safe limits= The machines are each provided with shunt and series windings which, under-normal generating conditions. act dilierentially.

he windings of the two machines are so proportioned that when the charging current Hows through the armatures and differential fields in series, of the differential winding of the auxiliary machine upon its shunt field is greater than the relative eliect of the differential winding of the main machine upon its shunt winding, i. e., the percentage of di'ercntial compoundbattery charging voltage,

the relative effectillustrates diagrammatically, a

ing. in the two machines is dierent so that the current which will cause the series .field winding of the auxiliary' machine to `over power its shunt field wn'ding completely, will not be great enough to cause the series field winding of the main generator to overpower the main shunt winding, but will merely reduce the effect of the same. By this arrangementI of having the same current flow through two differentially'wound generators of different characteristics, an effeet is prmiuced whereby the strength of current in thel series circuit automatically und selectively. governs the voltage of the auxiliary machine, both in value and direction, to re-act upon the main machine to give a tendency toward stability.

Fig. 1 illustrates-the main machine havin an armature 1, series field 2, and a shunt fiel fi; the auxiliary niachinehaving an armaturc 4, a series field 5 and a shunt field 6, the combined automatic switch and starter switch 7 and a battery 8, and lamps or other translating devices 9, connected across the main leads of the system.

The armatures 1 and 4 of the two machines are Connected to the engine the armature of the main machine being directly mounted on the engine shaft to serve as the fly wheel of the engine, or being geared to the fiy-wheel as desi-red, and the auxiliary machine havin its armature connected by means of a clut/c to the pump shaft or any other movingl part of the engine.

The combined automatic switch and starter switch 7 comprises a plunger 10, carrying a bridging member 11, adapted to cooperate in one extreme position with con tacts 12 and 13, and in the other extreme position with contacts 14 and 15.v The plunger is provided with a stem 16, which may project through the dash or foot-board 17 of the automobile, and is provided with an operating handle or button 18. Coil springs 19 and 20 on Aopposite sides of the dash or foot-board, tend to maintain the plunger in neutral position, with the bridging member out of enga ement with either of the sets of contacts. he switch may be moved in ,one direction by means of the handle to bridge one pair of contacts and is adapted tohle automatically moved in the other direction to bridge the 1 other pair of contacts. To provide for automatic operation, the switch has a shunt liftin coil 21 connected across the Imain leads o the system and a series holdingcoil 22adapted to be connected i n the main generator circuit -when the circuit between the generator and storage battery is closed. V

When the switch is moved to starting position-in which the contacts 12-and 13 are connected to ether, a circuit is established whereby the attery may operate the main dynamolectric machine as a motor to start the engine. The motor circuit. is completed from the positive terminal of the battery, through conductor 23, contact 12, bridging member 11, contact 13, conductor 24, series field 2 and conductor 25 to the negative terminal of the battery, thus, operating the main dynamo electric machine as a series motor to start the engine. As soon as the engine begins to operate under its own power, the foot switch is released and assumesneutral position in which the bridging merriber 11 is outl of contact with both sets of contacts 1%-13 and 14-15. The armature 1, of the starter, driven by the engine, begins t0 generate and supplies current to the shunt field 6 of the auxiliary machine which also begins to generate. The sum of the electromotive forces of both machines is impressed upon the shunt fields 3 and 6 to excite the same, these fields being thereby subject to a proximately double voltage. This allows t e machine 1 to build up rapidly so that it may be cut in at a comparatively low speed. As soon as the voltage has risen tothe proper value for charging the battery, the automatic switch operated by the coil 21 closes the contacts 14e-15. Differential field 5 of the auxiliary machine is thereby connected -in series with battery 8in the charging circuit. The main generator, in. addition to supplying 'the lamps 9, now furnishes current to the'storage battery through the series coil 2 which acts differential y with respect to the shunt coil` 3 through the armature 4 o f the auxiliary machine, through series coil 22 of the automatic switch, contacts 14-11-15, conductor 26, ammeter 27, differential coil 5 of the auxiliary machine, conductor 23,througli the storage battery 8 and back to armature 1.

Current fiowing through the differential coil 5 which is in series with the battery counteracts, to some extent, the effect of the shunt winding 6 and as the current rises in the differential cdil 5, the voltage of the armature 4 approaches zero. On ,further `increase of current,'the differential winding -I'B- i 5 overpowers the-shunt winding 6 and verses the polarity of thearmature 4. The voltage of the armaturei, which is`now in a reverse direction opposes the voltage of' the main generator armature 1, and als() weakensl the shunt field 3, thus exercising control over themain generator to keep the out ut of the same within predetermined limits. The auxiliary machine 4 at this time is operated as a motor and regenerates the ower which it consumes by ai'din in `turning the engine through the pump s aft to which it is clutched.

It can be 'seen that there area number of infiuences tending toward regulation of the chargin generator 1. The differential field 5 of t e auxilia machine gradually reduces the voltage o its armature 4" and machine then operates as 'position whereby 33 attached to the switch blades Ilil-i0 arei when the differential field 5 overpowers the shunt Held 6, the voltage of the armature 4 will be in the reverse direction and will tend to oppose the voltage of the main armature 1. The decrease in voltage of armature 4 and the subsequent reversal has diminished the How of current through the shunt field 3 of the main generator. The differential field 2 also opposes the shunt field 3. These various factors limit the output. of the charging generator to desired values.

In the modification, shown in Fig. 2, the auxiliary machine may be operated as an 1ndependent shunt motor for driving a compressor, or tire pump, or the like. For this purpose a three-pole switch 31 having blades 40, 41 and 42 is connected to the armature leads and the shunt tield lead respectively. When the machine is to be operated as a shunt motor for compressing air or for other purposes, the switch 31 is placed in the lower armature terminalsBQ and connected to the battery 8 by wires 34 and 35 respectively. At the same time the shunt field windingr 6 isconnccted to the battery lead 35 by switch blade 42 and wire 37. The d shunt wound motor.

It is understood. of course, that when this auxiliary machine is operated as a shunt motor, it is first unclutched from the pump shaft and igclutched to the tire pump shaft in a well known manner to operate the tire pump (not shown). When the switch 31 is thrown to the upper position, the machine is connected back into the starting and charging ircuit, just as shown and described in connection with Fig. 1.

It can be seen from the description of the above arrangement that a very efiieient system has been provided. The main generator is operated as a series motor for starting purposes andas a differentially wound generator' for charging. The auxiliary machine can be utilized as an independent shunt motor a very efficient regulator' of'the main machine. By the use of double voltage for exciting the field coil 3, the main generator is cut in and charging can begin at comparatively low speeds, much lower than would otherwise be possible. Regulation isei'ected in a very etlicient manner because the tendency of the auxiliary machine to supply an opposing voltage reduces the current in' the winding 3 ofthe main machine without the use of rheostats or resistances, which are necessarily wasteful. The energy consumed by the auxiliary machine in regulation is very largely regenerated and turned back to the engine through the pump shaft by means of the motoring effect of this machine.

From the above During charging it .serves as it is 'seen that a system especially adapted to motor car service has been provided, but the invention is not limited to any particular use nor to an of the details of construction above `descri ed and the invention is not to be limited in any sense except as limitations may be imposed in the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. An electrical system of generation and regulation including a load circuit, a main dynamo-electric machine, anA auxiliary dynamo-electric machine, means for connecting the armatures of said machines in series with said load circuit, saidmachines having each a shunt winding and a. series differential winding, -each of said shunt windings being connected to be sutgiccted to the sum of the voltages of the two armatures.

2. A battery charging system including a prime mover, a battery to be charged, a main differentially wound generator and an auxiliary differentially wound generator, said generators being driven by said prime mover and having their armatures connected in series with the storage battery, the shunt winding of each of said generators being connected to be subjected to the sum of the voltages of the two armatures.

3. In a starting and charging system, a storage battery, a main dynamo electric ma chine, an auxiliary dynamo electric machine, means for connecting the armatures of said machines in series with said storage battery, said machines having each a shunt winding and a series differential winding, each of said shunt windings being connected to be subject to the sum of' the voltages cf the two armatures.

4. In a starting and charging system, the combination of an internal combustion cngine, a storage battery, a main differentially wound dynamo electric machine, and an auxiliary differentially wound dynamo electric machine. said machines having unequal percentages of differential compounding, said machines being driven by said engine and having their armatures connected in series with the storage battery.

5. In a starting and charging system, the combination of an internal combustion engine, a storage battery, a main dynamo electric machine and an auxiliary dynamo electric machinc,...the battery being `connected 'to said main machine to operate the same as a series motor for starting, and means to connect the two machines in series with the storage battery to charge the same, said last ently operated as Lennart electric machine having a shunt and a dt'l'erential series winding, both of' said machines beinzgr connected to said engine, said battery being connected to said first machine through the series winding thereof to operate said first machine as a starting motor, and means toconnect said two generators in series with said battery to charge the same, said shunt windings being,r subject to the sum of' the voltages of both said machines.

7. In a starting and charging system, a main generator'havingr a shunt field wind- .ingr and a differential series field winding, an auxiliary machine having` a shunt field Winding and a series differential field winding, :Voornmon variable speed means for 'driving both said generators, a storage battery, an automatic switch for connecting said battery in Series with both said generators, and manual means to connect the battery to said first generator to operate the same as a series meten 8. In an electrical system for automobiles, a main dynamo electric machine, an auxiliary dynamo-electric machine in series therewith to assist and regulate said main dynamo-electric machine, and means whereby said auxiliary machin@ may be independa shunt motor.

9. An electrical system of' generation and regulation including a load circuit, a main dynamo-electric machine having Ishunt and series differential Held coils, an auxiliary dynamo-electric machine having shunt and series differential field coils, means for connecting said machines in series whereby their shunt fields may be subjected to the sum of the voltages of the machines, said load circuit being supplied by said machines in series, the differential series winding of said auxiliary machine being connected in series with the load circuit whereby, as current in said circuit tends to increase, the voltage of said auxiliary machine will be decreased by the increased energization of its differential field winding. and said machines having di fi'ercnt characteristies whereby a predetermined increase in current n'ill cause said auxiliary machine to reverse in polarity to reduce the output of said ,main machine.

10. In a startingI and charging System.l a main generator, an auxiliary generator, a shunt field :t'cr the main generator and a shunt field for the auxiliary generator, each of' said shunt fields being energized by the sum of the voltages of both said machines, a storage battery and an automatic cut in switch to connect said battery to both said generators controlled by the sum of said voltages. A

11. In a starting and charging system, a main dynamo electric machine, a shunt field therefor, an auxiliary dynamo electric machine and a shunt field therefor, each of bv sinn of thc initd muil a sim-aire .attcl'jig an cui if; switch er trollcd by the sum ol the voltages to conneet thc two machines in series with the bat` tory, and a field winding for said second machine in series with the batter)y ausing said auxiliary machine to regulate the output of thc first machine.

l2. An automobile starting and lighting system includingr a main dynamo electric machine having shunt and series differential field coils, an auxiliary dymuno electric machine having shunt and series differential field coils, means for connecting said machines in series whereby their shunt fields may he subjected to the sinn of the voltages of the machines, a storage battery to be charged by said machines in series, the differential series winding of said auxiliary machine being: connected in series with the battery charging circuit, whereby as the charging current tends to increase the voltage of said auxiliary machine will be dccreascd by thc increased energization of' its differential licld winding, and said machines having ('liITei-cut characteristics whereby a predctermiucd increase in current will cause said auxiliary machine to reverse in polarity to reduce the output of said main machine.

13. An electrical system `of generation and regulation including a load circuit, a main dynamoelectric machine, an auxiliary dynamo-eicelric machine. means for connecting thc armatures of said machines in series with said load circuit. said machines A having each a shunt field WindingT and a series difi'ereutial field winding, one of said machines having a ditt'crcnt percentage of compoundimgr from the other.

1l. In an electrical system for aulomobiles, a main d vnamo-elcctric machine, an auxiliary d vuauin-clcctric machine in series therewith to assist and regulate said main dynamo-elcctric machine, a storage battery, and switching! means whereby said main machine may be independently operated as a sci-ics motor or said auxiliary machine in depcndently operated as a shunt motor.

15. ln a starting' and charging system, the combination ot' an internal combustifn'i engine, a storage ljiaitery, a main diffcrcntially wound dynanlo-clcctric machine, and an auxiliary differentially wound dynamov electric machine. said latter machine being adapted to reverse in polarity ivill increase of current therethrough. said machines in ing driven b v said engine and having their armatures cnnneclcd in series with the storage battery.

16..An electrical system of generation and regulation including a load circuit, a. main dynan'io-electric machine. an auxiliary dynamo-electric machine, means for con` necting the armatures of said` machines in series with said load circuit, said machines having each a shunt field Windin and a, eries differential field Winding, sald auxiliary machine being adapted to reverse in polarity with lncrease 0f current therethrough.

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto sul);

scribed my mime in the presence of two witnesses. 

